Azerbaijan’s embassy warns citizens over deteriorating security in parts of Mexico

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Mexico has urged its citizens to exercise heightened caution following a deterioration in the security situation in parts of the country.

In a statement, the diplomatic mission advised Azerbaijani nationals travelling or temporarily residing in Mexico to closely follow security guidance issued by local authorities in the state of Jalisco and neighbouring states, including Michoacán, Guanajuato, Colima, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Nayarit.

The embassy called on citizens to remain vigilant, adhere strictly to personal safety rules and avoid mass gatherings and areas deemed risky. It also urged nationals to rely solely on information published by official sources.

The warning comes amid increased security concerns in several regions of western and central Mexico, although the embassy did not provide specific details about the nature of the threat.

The Consular Department of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Mexico said it had activated hotline numbers to assist citizens requiring support.

In recent days, parts of Mexico have seen a sharp escalation in violence following a major security operation against one of the country’s most powerful organised crime figures. Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the state of Jalisco on 22 February 2026. The operation sparked clashes, fires and roadblocks across multiple states, as cartel fighters reacted violently to the raid.

Security alerts and warnings have been issued by several nations for their citizens, including shelter-in-place advisories in places such as Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and other urban centres in Jalisco and neighbouring states. Airports and transport services were disrupted, and local authorities in some regions declared heightened emergency statuses as armed confrontations occurred.

The CJNG is considered among Mexico’s most formidable drug trafficking organisations, with extensive reach across the country and involvement in the production and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. Analysts warn that the killing of a cartel leader can trigger violent reprisals or power struggles as rival factions compete to fill the vacuum.

Mexico has long grappled with high levels of organised crime and homicides linked to turf wars between cartels, with states like Guanajuato, Michoacán and Colima historically among the most violent, driven by drug trafficking and criminal activity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev